The Athletic NBA Daily Luka magic for the Lakers, again
13 snips
Mar 19, 2026 
Will Guillory, an NBA reporter covering the Rockets and Pelicans for The Athletic, brings insider perspective. He breaks down Luka and LeBron's late-game takeover. He dissects Houston's recurring fourth-quarter execution problems and Alperen Şengün's impact on spacing. He also discusses Western Conference dynamics, from the Spurs' rise to the Thunder and Nuggets' standing.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Luka Went Nuclear In The Fourth
- Will Guillory was in the arena as Luka and LeBron took over the fourth quarter to seal the Lakers' win.
- Luka “went nuclear,” hitting wild shots and lobs to Rui and LeBron that the Rockets could not stop.
Rockets' Clutch Issues Are Role Player Reliability
- Rockets' clutch failures stem from unreliable role players and poor spacing when Kevin Durant gets doubled.
- Will notes misses from Tari Eason and Jabari Smith constrict the floor and force KD into late-game overburdened play.
Alperen Restores Rockets' Playmaking Rhythm
- Alperen Şengün's presence and pocket passes transformed the Rockets' offense in the second game.
- Will says Şengün finished with a big game (around 27 and 10) creating plays out of doubles and four-on situations.